Need electrical advice!!?
Question:Okay...I have two outlets on the same wall and the top plug-in isn't working on either one...yet the bottom plug-ins are both working. I've checked the circuit breakers and switches and all is as it should be. Any other ideas of what could be going on?
Answers:
plug a lamp or radio into the plug in in question
then check ALL switches again
if this dont work you may have a switch gone bad
do you have a volt meter,,if so take the cover off switch
CAREFUL NOW IT IS HOT--THIS WILL KILL YOU AND ANYONE ELSE THAT CONTACTS YOU
with switch in on position test bottom screw to ground(metal part of switch)--should be around 120
same on other screw--should be around 120
if you get 120 on both screws switch is working
better chance of a switch than a plug going bad
last resort ,,find an electrician
I have seen recepticals that operate from light switch in this manner. If a light switch is not the answer, replace receptical.
the one part of your wall plug isnt any good so you should change both wall plugs and then you will be in good shape to use both plugs
the wire connected to ur box in the top might have broken for various reasons best option- get a pwoer strip and dont worry about it unless u smell smoke or something then call an electrician
Take the wall covers off and look at the side of the outlets, you will find that the little bar that connects the upper plug with the lower has been removed, probably to switch one half of the outlets. If you don't want to switch the outlets, replace them with new ones that have the jumper, the little bar. And put wire nuts on the switch wires using only the hots for powering the outlets. If you want to have half the outlet switched, you need to find the bad switch or loose connection. I recommend you get the Black and Decker Complete Guide to Home Wiring at a home center or Amazon and buy a few inexpensive tools such as a continuity tester to wring out the problem.
turn off the breakers and take the outlets of the wall and check for conections and loss wires
Some receptacles are wired so that the top half works fro a switch to turn on lamps etc. plug a working lamp into one of these top halves and try your switches that are usually by the door.
I can see one outlet being faulty, but 2?? The problem isnt the recpticle but may be the wiring to them. Some recepticles have connections for top and bottom with a copper jumper so only 2 wires are needed. If this isnt in place you have what you have. I would advise calling in an electrician to have a look see.
First, make sure the electricity is turned off to those outlets. Then you can take off the cover plate, and remove the receptacle from the box. Look at the side of the receptacle where the two screws are. There should be a metal tab connecting the two terminals. If this is missing, then the best thing to do is replace the receptacle.
Another possibility is that the top and bottom outlets were wired on different circuits. This would be unusual, however.
You didn't say if the top parts of these outlets EVER worked.
They're acting like they are on a switch, but you say you've checked all the switches (one at a time, I hope, in case there are some two-location switches).
Other than that, you might just need to open up the outlet and see if someone has broken off the tabs that allow one half of the outlet to be switched, but then didn't hook that part up to the switched circuit.
If one half of each outlet is working, then the tab on the side of the outlets HAS BEEN removed. The top plug-ins are most likely controlled by a switch. Make certain it is on and working.
Please see :
http://www.selfhelpandmore.com/switchout...
Most of the time they only switch half of the receptacle.
The switch is off and NO to your answer to the person with the correct answer, the top and bottom half of a receptacle CAN be wired separately. I'd replace the wall switch or at least test it. Better that you hire a handyman or an electrician.
your duplex outlets have a tab that connects the top and bottom together and sometimes when wiring to a switch they break the tab so only the top or bottom works off the switch and the other stays hot but if that's not the case then one of the tabs could be burned off.
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